Paramus' Bijou Bridal shop featured tonight on TLC

After six years in the bridal business, Bijou Bridal owners Joyce and Julie Jou have pretty much seen it all. Epic bride temper tantrums. A father threatening to throw a punch because he's not allowed into the fitting area. A bride bringing 28 people along to offer their opinions on her dress.

Much of this wedding drama is common fare on shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Bridezillas," but the Jou sisters and their Paramus store are bringing a New Jersey twist — complete with extra sparkle and extra attitude — to bridal reality shows with "Jersey Brides," an hourlong special on TLC that may get turned into a recurring series, according to the network.

"With Bergen being one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it's definitely a different clientele," said Julie, 29. "These girls want a lot of bling, a lot of poof, a lot more of everything. They also want to show off their bodies in dresses that show off their curves."

Though the network is already steeped in wedding-related shows, it's clear audiences can't get enough. Like other Jersey-centric reality shows like "Jerseylicious" and "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," this show will focus on the big and brash personalities of the brides who come into the store for their dream dress.

The Jou sisters never intended to become the next stars of reality TV, but fashion is in their blood. They grew up in River Edge, and their parents are men's wear wholesalers. They briefly toyed with becoming part of their parents' business, but found it too boring and staid.

When the sisters discovered a luxurious, four-story building for sale on Route 17, they decided to use that as the jumping-off point for their own store.

"We wanted it to be a really luxurious store since there weren't too many around then," said Joyce. "We wanted it to be a place where people could have a shopping experience, not just where they get a dress and go."

They opened in 2006, and now have two satellite stores: one in Ardmore, Pa., and one in Honolulu. When the sisters compare the sales from their three stores, it's easy to see that the Jersey brides want more, more, more.

"They want even more jewels added on to a dress that's already totally encrusted in them, compared to some orders in our other stores where they're asking for all the sparkle to be taken off," Julie said.

Though their demanding brides present a daily challenge, superstorm Sandy threw the store into chaos. Brides-to-be were calling the store frantically, worried their dresses wouldn't be ready for their big day. The store lost power for three days, so the sisters dispatched their employees along with dresses and steamers to places with generators, so dresses would be ready for pickup.

"We were sitting here in the cold, in the dark, with a printout of our brides' phone numbers," Julie said. "We had a lot of brides who didn't even know if they were going to get married."

The sisters feel a lot of loyalty toward the brides, no matter how much drama they cause. A scrapbook in the store's lobby holds dozens of thank-you cards from women who found their dresses at Bijou Bridal. Some of them still stop by the store, months after their weddings, just to say hi to the sisters and their consultants.

"We develop a relationship because you see them for so long, over a year's time," Joyce said. "We're sad when they walk out the door for the last time."

Paramus' Bijou Bridal shop featured tonight on TLC

After six years in the bridal business, Bijou Bridal owners Joyce and Julie Jou have pretty much seen it all. Epic bride temper tantrums. A father threatening to throw a punch because he's not allowed into the fitting area. A bride bringing 28 people along to offer their opinions on her dress.

Much of this wedding drama is common fare on shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Bridezillas," but the Jou sisters and their Paramus store are bringing a New Jersey twist — complete with extra sparkle and extra attitude — to bridal reality shows with "Jersey Brides," an hourlong special on TLC that may get turned into a recurring series, according to the network.

"With Bergen being one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it's definitely a different clientele," said Julie, 29. "These girls want a lot of bling, a lot of poof, a lot more of everything. They also want to show off their bodies in dresses that show off their curves."

Though the network is already steeped in wedding-related shows, it's clear audiences can't get enough. Like other Jersey-centric reality shows like "Jerseylicious" and "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," this show will focus on the big and brash personalities of the brides who come into the store for their dream dress.

The Jou sisters never intended to become the next stars of reality TV, but fashion is in their blood. They grew up in River Edge, and their parents are men's wear wholesalers. They briefly toyed with becoming part of their parents' business, but found it too boring and staid.

When the sisters discovered a luxurious, four-story building for sale on Route 17, they decided to use that as the jumping-off point for their own store.

"We wanted it to be a really luxurious store since there weren't too many around then," said Joyce. "We wanted it to be a place where people could have a shopping experience, not just where they get a dress and go."

They opened in 2006, and now have two satellite stores: one in Ardmore, Pa., and one in Honolulu. When the sisters compare the sales from their three stores, it's easy to see that the Jersey brides want more, more, more.

"They want even more jewels added on to a dress that's already totally encrusted in them, compared to some orders in our other stores where they're asking for all the sparkle to be taken off," Julie said.

Though their demanding brides present a daily challenge, superstorm Sandy threw the store into chaos. Brides-to-be were calling the store frantically, worried their dresses wouldn't be ready for their big day. The store lost power for three days, so the sisters dispatched their employees along with dresses and steamers to places with generators, so dresses would be ready for pickup.

"We were sitting here in the cold, in the dark, with a printout of our brides' phone numbers," Julie said. "We had a lot of brides who didn't even know if they were going to get married."

The sisters feel a lot of loyalty toward the brides, no matter how much drama they cause. A scrapbook in the store's lobby holds dozens of thank-you cards from women who found their dresses at Bijou Bridal. Some of them still stop by the store, months after their weddings, just to say hi to the sisters and their consultants.

"We develop a relationship because you see them for so long, over a year's time," Joyce said. "We're sad when they walk out the door for the last time."